DEVASTATED by a terminal cancer diagnosis, Amanda Olley wants to pack as many memories into the time she has left.

DEVASTATED by a terminal cancer diagnosis, Amanda Olley wants to pack as many memories into the time she has left.

So when a friend offered to pay for her and her young family to go on a dream trip to Disneyland in Florida, the 38-year-old jumped at the chance.

But when the mum-of-two was told she needed yet more surgery she realised she wouldn’t be able to make the trip and husband Simon tried to rearrange the flights for them and their daughters Yasmin, five, and Naomi, three.

Simon first contacted the travel agent they had booked the flights through, but they said only airline provider Thomas Cook could help.

But because the flight was less then 10 days away, Thomas Cook could not provide a refund.

Simon, 38, of South Shields said: “We thought in the circumstances there was something they could do for us, but no-one wanted to help. We didn’t want the money back, but as a gesture of goodwill thought there was something Thomas Cook could do.

“We were unfortunately not able to get travel insurance to cover cancellation because of Amanda’s illness, but we are still going to see if they can help.”

Amanda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and had her right breast removed before undergoing chemotherapy and radiotheraphy.

The family then set about getting on with their lives again until another devastating blow last November.

It was after Amanda’s father passed away that she began getting short of breath and visited her GP. She was sent for tests and doctors said she had a tumour on her lung – and this time the cancer was terminal.

Then just weeks ago – after booking the trip to America – Amanda discovered the cancer had spread to her left breast and was told she would need another operation.

Amanda said: “We don’t know how long I have left, so when our friend Glenn English offered to pay for us to join my cousins and their children in Disneyland we accepted.

“Yasmin is Disney princess mad. She loves Snow White and Sleeping Beauty and she was excited to be going to meet them.

“We thought we could reschedule but nobody wanted to listen.”

As well as Glenn paying for the trip, generous colleagues at pharmaceutical company Sanofi, where Amanda worked until last year, raised £1,200 towards her travel insurance.

On Wednesday Amanda underwent a mastectomy. Simon, who has been with Amanda for 21 years and married for eight years, added: “It’s very emotional right now, and this incident doesn’t help.

“The children are a little too young to understand everything.”

A spokesperson for Thomas Cook said: “We’re really sorry to hear of Mrs Olley’s illness and wish her a full and speedy recovery. The Olleys need to urgently make contact with their insurance provider as most policies cover cancellations for medical reasons.”